Local health departments across New York State say they need more funding- and quickly.
While the coronavirus pandemic has been the big ticket item over the last 12 months, other smaller crisis’ have caused an equal amount of financial pain over the last several years.
Vaping related lung illnesses, as well as a measles outbreak in 2019 prompted issues before the pandemic even arrived. To make matters worse, overdoses and suicide were both rising issues in the last five years, which health departments were dealing with in an adjacent way, too.
Then COVID-19 happened.
Local public health officials are seeking a restoration of nearly $70 million in proposed spending reductions for public health funding in the state, according to Spectrum News.
They also want to shape policy around the possible legalization of recreational marijuana.
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